My 29th <3

A few days ago, I was already thinking of what to post for my 29th birthday. I was supposed to make a list of 29 whatever things but then again, I realized that I have a lot of blessings, definitely more than 29, to be thankful or wish for. (Or maybe, blame it on my busy week for not being able to do so.)

Last Friday (a week before my birthday), Mai and I were talking about my birthday plans. I told her that a simple Makati-under-the-stars dinner with good friends would be enough for me. Little did I know, she already texted PJ that night and told him about my plans.

During my birthday week, I kept on ranting to Mai about some of my friends who didn’t respond to my invite in our FB thread. I thought that they were ignoring me. But I was wrong. So wrong.

I was also sad that some of them, esp. May, Henry and Rexie, could not make it for some reasons. So when I brought up the dinner topic while Leah, Mark, PJ and I were having breakfast last Tuesday (or Monday), I thought that it would just be us, Mai, Anna and Donna who would meet up on my birthday.

Then came Friday. Or should I say a few minutes before Friday midnight.

PJ texted me an hour before 12am. I told him that his clock was way too advanced. He told me that he was just excited. My bubble thought said, “buti ka pa excited.” :p Then I fell asleep.

I woke up to Icze’s birthday greeting. While prepping myself up for another workday until I got to the office, messages from Russ, Donna, Anna, Rexie, Henry, Mai, May, Maan and friends kept on pouring wishing me more travels, happiness and yes, love. But my heart wished only for one thing, i.e., world peace. :p

I had a busy morning studying and briefing my boss for the SCN meeting on Tuesday. Buti na lang, our boss left agad the office at around lunchtime. :p I received another good news when Ms. Mercy called the office and told me that our Chinese visa application got approved. Woot, woot! This is it! Then in the afternoon, we went to the blessing of CQ Law Office, Christian and Lani’s new law firm. Yey, I had an instant free pa-merienda [chos!] and fun kwentuhan with LTD officemates.

When Leah and I got back to our office, she immediately went to Justice Hermes while I made tambay at my cubicle. When Donna, PJ, Leah and Mark were in the office na, we left na since Mai and Anna were already on their way to Makati.

On our way to Glorietta, I asked Mark where should I park the car. He told me sa The Link pero I asked “diba Watami tayo?” I heard someone said “Jipan” and I had no idea where that is. PJ was about to show me his phone tapos bigla na lang nyang binawi. And then I thought, oops, maybe they were keeping something from me.

We were met by Anna and Mai as soon as we arrived in Glorietta. While on our way to Jipan, Mai was keeping me busy by making kwento about anything then I saw May. I saw Kim, Maan and Russ. I was surprised. I was touched.

Maybe they were thinking that I would cry (being the crybaby that I am.) Pero I am not used to crying with an audience around. Hehe. Or maybe, I didn’t want them to see my kadramahan. But one thing’s for sure, my hands were cold while I was absorbing everything that was happening that night.

I always tell myself that while I love preparing surprises for friends, I don’t like being surprised. The other day I was making drama to PJ that I wasn’t excited for my birthday. For me, it’s just an ordinary day, only, I get a year older. I told him na natatakot kasi akong madisappoint na baka may makalimot ng birthday ko.

I realized na contrary to what I want to project myself to other people, ang nega pala ng thinking na un. I forget that there are more friends who remembered kesa sa mga nakalimot. So thank you to everyone who remembered, thru call, text, twitter, bbm and facebook. If there is one thing to be grateful for to social media, it reconnected me to friends who I haven’t talked to for a long time.

Thank you to my elementary and high school friends for remembering me on my special day.

Thank you to my UP friends for the touching messages you gave me. Sa mga nasa malayong lugar, mag-ingat kayo lagi. To those who took the bar or still studying law, just remember to pay it forward. At sa mga nasa Pinas lang, mabuhay mga baks!

Thank you to my San Beda friends and batchmates and for making the journey in this profession a fun one.

Thank you to all my friends from all over the showbiz and music world. Echos!

Thank you to friends I never thought I would meet.

Thank you to my officemates at the Lorenzo Tanada Division and SCN of OSG for bearing with me.

Thank you to my FLC and OSG friends/travel buddies/confidantes and the list goes on…Thank you for going to Makati on a Friday night. Thank you for the gifts. Thank you for conspiring with each other in putting up the surprise dinner. I salute your acting skills. May fallback na kayo, friends! Pwede na.

Once again, I realized (or was reminded) that I have very good and loving friends. My heart is filled with so much love and gratitude to all of you. Thank you Donna, May, Maan, Kim, Russ, Anna, Leah, Mark, PJ, Icze and Mai! Thank you for coming that night. Thank you for making me feel special. Thank you for making me feel loved. I was really touched.

This goes without saying that I also love my family. It’s a given naman na. My birthday wouldn’t be complete if not because of them.

I love You, Lord. Thank You for everything. I lift up to you all my heart’s desires, Kayo na po ang bahala. And let’s make my last year of being a twenteen a rockin’ one! Uukit na ako ng kasaysayan, diba Lord? Hihihi.